Communication device operation management

• US 20050245236A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tarlton, Mark A., Servi, Daniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A communication group is activated within a communication system (100) including an administrator device (125) and at least one subordinate device (130,135). Each subordinate device (130,135) is programmed with a set of operation rules dependent upon communication source (300), information content (305), current time (310), or geographic location (315). The administrator device (125) dynamically changes the stored set of operation rules for the subordinate device (130,135) by communicating a change message.

Claims

1. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

activating a communication group within a communication system, wherein the communication group comprises;

an administrator device, and

at least one subordinate device;

programming the at least one subordinate device with a set of operation rules;

receiving a change message by the subordinate device, wherein the change message is communicated from the administrator device; and

changing the set of operation rules within the subordinate device.

2. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the change message comprises a message source identification, the method further comprising the step of:

securely authenticating the administrator device using the message source identification prior to the changing step.

3. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

identifying the change message as originating from the administrator device prior to the changing step.

4. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication including an identification of the communication originator;

associating an operation mode with the identification; and

initiating the operation mode for processing the communication.

5. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 4, wherein the associating step comprises:

matching the identification to one of a plurality of stored identifications, and

retrieving the associated operation mode stored with the identification.

6. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

matching the identification with an administrator identification prior to the associating step;

identifying the communication as a rules memory reconfiguration message; and

changing a set of operation rules stored within the communication device.

7. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

matching the identification with an administrator identification prior to the associating step; and

interrupting an active call to process the received communication.

8. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission request;

determining an identification of an intended recipient of the information transmission;

matching the identification with one of a plurality of stored identifications, wherein each stored identification has an associated operation mode; and

terminating the information transmission when the associated operation mode for the intended recipient includes a restriction on the information transmission.

9. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a user input to initiate an information transmission.

10. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the receiving step comprises detecting an event requiring initiation of an information transmission.

11. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission request;

matching the information with one of a plurality of stored content, wherein each stored content has an associated operation mode; and

terminating the information transmission when the associated operation mode for the information includes a restriction on the information transmission.

12. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 11, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a user input to initiate an information transmission.

13. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 11, wherein the receiving step comprises detecting an event requiring initiation of an information transmission.

14. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission request;

matching the current time with one of a plurality of stored time periods, wherein each stored time period has an associated operation mode; and

terminating the information transmission when the associated operation mode for the current time includes a restriction on the information transmission.

15. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 14, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a user input to initiate an information transmission.

16. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 14, wherein the receiving step comprises detecting an event requiring initiation of an information transmission.

17. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission request;

matching the current location with one of a plurality of stored locations, wherein each stored location has an associated operation mode; and

terminating the information transmission when the associated operation mode for the current location includes a restriction on the information transmission.

18. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 17, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a user input to initiate an information transmission.

19. A method for managing the operation of a communication device as recited in claim 17, wherein the receiving step comprises detecting an event requiring initiation of an information transmission.

20. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication including an identification of the communication originator and a delivery time;

matching the identification with one or more stored administrator identifications;

setting a communication reminder to the delivery time; and

alerting with the communication at the delivery time.

21. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication including an identification of the communication originator and a response requirement;

matching the identification with one or more stored administrator identifications;

restricting operation of the communication device;

transmitting a response to the communication originator; and

removing the restricted operation in response to the response transmission.

22. A method for managing the operation of a communication device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication;

associating one or more of a plurality of communication features to the communication, wherein the communication features are selected from a group consisting of a sender identification, a message content, a time period, and a device location;

associating one or more operation modes with the one or more plurality of communication features; and

initiating the one or more operation modes for processing the communication.